A Serpent's Kiss

Chapter Sixteen

Apophis hauled her to her feet but the sharp stab in her side meant she collapsed into him. Supporting her, he told the rest of the demons whose numbers were beginning to grow again as they reformed to go. They trailed off, exhausted and broken but a step more militant than before.

Apophis dragged Arloh for a short way but their progress was slow. He changed into his huge serpent form and ordered Arloh to cling on. This she did by wrapping her arms around his body and squeezing her legs tight as if she were riding a horse. Their progress was made infinitely quicker and soon they were collapsing through the door of Apophis’ home. He carried her over to the sofa and placed her down. Gasping at the white heat that flared on her side, Arloh tried to move but found she was paralysed with agony.

Her eye began to grow tired as she watched Apophis darting around, scooping up things and placing them in the cradle of his arms. When she felt something cold on her side, she knew it was something that would heal her. Satisfied that the pain would be gone soon, she drifted into a sleep-like haze. Actual sleep eluded her, but Arloh knew this was because demons didn’t sleep. Yes they felt pain, yes they ate, yet sleep was one of the basic functions that demons did not possess.

When she woke, it was to a strong blue light that filtered through her window. Pain hit her eyes and she cowered. Tentatively, she straightened back up, opening her eye slowly, by stages. Although the light hurt, it didn’t burn as much.

“You’re awake then. Just in time, you have training. Time to bite some more worthless creatures. Oh and you might want these.” Apophis threw a bundle of clothes at her. Unravelling the bundle, she saw a practical t-shirt, trousers and what looked like a leather jerkin. “For protection, just in case,” Apophis teased. Arloh smirked as she realised he was relishing this position of power bestowed upon him by Shamesh. With other people to shout a and beat, she was getting pretty good treatment.

She stood up, delighted that no pain ricocheted around her body or skull.

“What’s that light?” she asked as the blue wash caught the corner of her eyes.

“The same thing as yesterday. Angel light. Apart from there’s more of it which mean we have slightly less strength. But that’s why I am training you. Now hurry up. I will make the mightiest demon warrior of you that ever lived.”

The field was packed with thousands of demons and to Arloh it seemed like there were even more than yesterday. Apophis waste no time in gathering them before him.

“Yesterday was on strength and weakness. Today is on tactic. We’re playing a little game,” he leered, his teeth glinting. “Choose a partner and sneak up on them before they realise. Then attack using the skills you learnt yesterday. Again, imagine angels stand before you.”

As soon as he started moving, the crowds around him erupted into life, moving in one fluid motion. To Arloh’s left, a small winged demon launched itself at a slow worm like one. The winged creature felled the helpless demon in one move, sinking a curved beak deep into the worm’s slimy slide. With a pop it vanished. Exultantly, the demon turned to meet Arloh’s eye.

“The surprise tactic. Very good,” Apophis purred but Arloh heard him through a muffled haze. Her mind seemed to be playing images and sounds like a film. She remembered the pin prick of metal on her throat and a searing light that blinded her. Beneath her hands she seemed to feel tarmac pressing deep into her skin. There was suddenly no air in the atmosphere and she bent over, gasping.

“Arloh?” a hand touched her shoulder. Slowly she blinked away the smog in her eyes and saw Apophis’ eyes gazing down into hers, intense with curiosity.

“I’m fine. Get off me,” she snapped. Startled Apophis remove his hand but continued to stare, a new look on his face. “It’s nothing,” she hissed, shoving him aside and stalking away to find a victim. As she moved, she morphed into her serpent body and began to weave through the legs, tails, wings of combatants. Instinct suddenly told her to swerve and as she did so a shadow brushed past her. Turning her head, she saw a huge scaly beast glare at her. Her tongue flicked out as she hissed but she ignored it.

A dog like creature pranced a few meters away, obviously deciding on its target. Seizing the chance, Arloh slid forward, careful not to make a sound. When she was a few inches away she could see the demon standing on its hind legs and sniffing the air. Now. She launched forward with the power that she knew would crush the dog. She landed on top of it, flattening it into the ground. Cracks riveted in the ground around its body. A whimper escaped its throat and then it disintegrated.

Intense loathing came over Arloh. Realising it was her hatred for the angels, she scoured the field for Apophis. For a moment, all she could see were writhing black shadows, and then a huge head reared upwards. In an instant, she was moving towards it. Seeing her approach, Apophis threw the limp boy of a demon from his mouth and moved to meet her.

You seem troubled Apophis said as they neared.

When do we fight these angels Apophis? If you hadn’t noticed, they are days, hours away from breaking through. I cannot stand this much longer. With a jolt, Arloh realised that she was having flashbacks and they were weakening her, making the faint remnants of her humanity fuse together once more. The closer he gets, the less demon I become.

Apophis moved backwards, fear in his eyes for the first time. Before Arloh had time to blink, he was racing eastwards, away from the battle. Confused, Arloh called him back but he seemed intent on his own mission. Realisation hit her, knocking the breath out of her body. Putting on as much speed as she could she raced after him, keeping her eyes focused on his fast diminishing shape. Cursing, she pushed her body to the limit but he had the head start and soon she lost him. She knew where he was headed so she slowed down, realising it may be a while before she heard the answer to the question he was about to pose to Shamesh.

The palace was just as empty as before but without Apophis she was powerless to get inside. Infuriated and impatient, she waited in the courtyard, following its square shape around and around. Time was moving on.

A huge sound like thunder cracked across the skies and looking up, Arloh saw the clouds part above a column. A winged shape dropped downwards and Arloh’s breath caught in her throat as she realised an angel had penetrated their defences. Her body tensed. As she watched, it fell directly onto the tip of the column and suddenly started to writhe and jerk. Green light seemed to explode from its body. When the light diminished she saw the angel was no longer there. She realised she had been holding her breath and now released it.

“Can you not leave me alone?” Apophis’ voice came from behind her. Whipping around, she saw him standing a few meters away in his human form.

“There was an angel. Fell from the sky. It got through. A light, the column…” she jabbered, her voice revealing her panic and urgency. Apophis grabbed her arm and made soothing motions with his hand.

“We know. Our defences are weak. We have one shield left before they can get inside which is why we are going to meet them tomorrow. On the streets. Shamesh will lead us.”

Arloh’s shoulders sagged in relief. It was going to be happen. She was going to be free of this cursed humanity and angel that haunted her. In a smooth motion, she yanked Apophis’ head forward and met his lips. They tasted like despair, bitter and dark. For a moment, Apophis’ lips moved in sync with hers but then there was a sharp stab and they sprang apart.

“I’m still too angel, aren’t I? You told me I was a demon!” she was getting hysterical; the panic and frustration was rising to the surface in a bubbling, boiling lake. “You lied to me!” Her hands were shaking in fury and her voice was beginning to tremble with emotion.

“Shut it Arloh!” Apophis roared so loud that the walls seemed to ring with his echo. “I am nearly there. You will nearly be mine! But you still have not proved you can be a complete demon. That’s why I cannot perform the final ceremony, can’t you see?”

“I haven’t proved myself?! What do you think I’m trying to do? You and Shamesh are blind idiots not to see the effort I am making. Did I not nearly kill that angel?”

Arloh shoved his face into hers, their noses inches apart. His eyes were flashing with fury. “Nearly, Arloh, nearly. But human sympathy got the better of you.”

Arloh’s hand met with his cheek with a resounding crack. He staggered backwards from the force. “I am not human. I am not Alaura anymore.”

Silence hung between them and Arloh’s mouth slowly opened. She had just said the name that used to belong to her, a name she had thought she had forgotten. This did not bode well. Apophis was right. Humanity was still in her, stronger than she had thought. The demon strength in her was ebbing with every flashback, every memory as her body and conscious fought to return to the girl she once was.

“No,” she whispered, backing away and feeling tears come to her eyes. Angrily, she dashed them away – they were too human. Demons did not cry. “I’m not human,” she squeaked, half to the stony figure of Apophis, half to herself. “Not human.” With a whimper, she turned and ran. Apophis made no move to stop her.

She moved over the landscape, blinded by her watering eyes. Desperately she tried to find the source of her tears and cut it off but she couldn’t. The landscape around her skimmed past in blurs and she didn’t look where she was going until she crashed into something solid and was pitched backwards. Breathing heavily, she leaned on her hands and followed the straight pillar up. There was that ghastly blue light above it.

In a snap, Arloh made a decision that would go against all the demon laws and would probably get her killed eventually by either side. Gritting her teeth, she allowed the serpent skin to wrap around her and she began to climb.

“Arloh. Stop.” Apophis voice was full of vehemence and power. Glancing down from where she had climbed to, she saw him looking up at her. She had thought he hadn’t followed her but of course he had.

“You can’t stop me now,” she said out loud, pausing for a moment to realise that she had a true voice of the serpent. Her tones were menacing, grating and raw. “I am going to prove how wrong you all are. I am going to kill.” She shot upwards, winding her way upwards, the light growing brighter and stronger. The air became cold and hit the back of her throat. Ignoring the tremors that were rippling through her, she pressed onwards, feeling the light flowing and billowing around her.

Startled she emerged onto a wind and rain blasted street of the human world. People were madly racing about, leaping over the huge cracks in the road and pavement that she presumed opened into the underworld. Trees were flying, leaves were creating whirlwinds and water spilled onto the ground from every source. Directly ahead of her was a pile of rubble where a house had once stood. A powerful memory came back to her. A smiling, plump woman, an open window looking out into the face of the moon. A trellis.

“Ouch,” she breathed in a rush of air, realising this was where she had once lived. A pain punched its way through her stomach as she felt an absence in her life. Her parents. It had been years since she had seen them and she didn’t know if they were buried under all that rubble. The memory momentarily blocked out her surroundings until a loud, pierce scream penetrated her ears.

“Oh my god!” Turning, she saw a petrified man pointing at her, his mouth hanging wide open. Demonic emotions churned back inside her and she launched forward before the man had time to run. Her fangs sunk into his chest and he toppled over. She was furious now and for the first time, opened her jaws. Blood welled up from the deep puncture marks in his chest and his breath came out in rattles. His eyes were huge wells of darkness.